SPHL

Last updated

SPHL
Current season, competition or edition:
Hockey current event.svg 2023–24 SPHL season
SPHL logo.png
Sport Ice hockey
Founded2004
CommissionerDoug Price [1]
No. of teams10
CountryUnited States
Most recent
champion(s)		 Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
(2023)
Most titles Knoxville Ice Bears and Pensacola Ice Flyers (4 each)
Official website thesphl.com

The SPHL (formerly the Southern Professional Hockey League) is a professional ice hockey independent minor league based in Huntersville, North Carolina, with teams located primarily in the southeastern United States as well as Illinois and Indiana in the midwestern United States.

Contents

Following the 2022–23 season, the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs are the reigning President's Cup champions. As of 2023, the Knoxville Ice Bears are the most successful team in SPHL history, having won five William B. Coffey Trophies as the regular season champions and four President's Cup playoff championships. The Peoria Rivermen have also won five William B. Coffey Trophies, while Pensacola has also won four President's Cups.

History

The SPHL's history traces back to three other short-lived leagues. The Atlantic Coast Hockey League started play in the 2002–03 season. After its only season, the ACHL dissolved with member teams forming the nucleus for two rival leagues, the South East Hockey League and the World Hockey Association 2. After one season, the SEHL and WHA2 disbanded, with their surviving teams rejoining with two expansion teams to form the SPHL, commencing with the 2004–05 season.

In 2009, the SPHL saw a large expansion with three new franchises, in Biloxi, Mississippi, [2] [3] [4] Lafayette, Louisiana [5] and Pensacola, Florida. [6] [7] In 2010, the league added an expansion team in Augusta, Georgia, another former long time ECHL market. [8] For the 2011–12 season, the league added two-time Central Hockey League champions, the Mississippi RiverKings. [9] [10] For the 2013–14 season, the league lost the Augusta RiverHawks but also expanded northward with two franchises in Illinois: the Bloomington Thunder, a team also moving from the CHL, where they were known as the Bloomington Blaze, and the Peoria Rivermen, who were replacing an American Hockey League team of the same name in their market. [11] In 2015, the Augusta franchise returned and relocated to Macon, Georgia as the Macon Mayhem.

In November 2014, Shannon Szabados became the first female goaltender to win an SPHL game, when the Columbus Cottonmouths defeated the Fayetteville FireAntz 5–4 in overtime. [12] In that same game Erin Blair and Katie Guay became the first female officials to referee an SPHL game. [12]

At the end of the 2015–16 season, the Louisiana IceGators announced a one-year leave of absence for renovations to their arena but never returned. The IceGators' franchise was sold and reactivated as the Quad City Storm in 2018. Then in 2016, the dormant Mississippi Surge franchise was relocated to Southwest Virginia to become the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs. One of the inaugural SPHL teams, the Columbus Cottonmouths, suspended operations in 2017 after failing to find a buyer while an expansion team called the Birmingham Bulls were accepted into the league as the tenth team. Following the 2017–18 season, the Mississippi RiverKings suspended operations while the league searched for new owners. [13] With the acceptance of the Quad City Storm, the league was able to remain at ten teams for the 2018–19 season.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019–20 season was curtailed and no champion was named. The following season, the league announced it would only play with five of the ten member teams due to pandemic-related capacity restrictions barring fans from attending games. [14] During the season, the league approved of the Vermilion County Bobcats as a 2021–22 expansion team based in Danville, Illinois. [15] The Bobcats folded after only a year and a half. [16]

In 2023, the league rebranded to the orphaned initialism SPHL to reflect the fact that the league's footprint had expanded beyond the southern United States. [17]

Teams

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Teams currently in the SPHL

2023-24 members

Overview of SPHL teams
TeamCityArenaCapacityFoundedJoinedHead coach
Birmingham Bulls [18] [19] Pelham, Alabama Pelham Civic Center 4,1002017Craig Simchuk
Evansville Thunderbolts Evansville, Indiana Ford Center 9,0002016 Jeff Bes
Fayetteville Marksmen Fayetteville, North Carolina Crown Coliseum 9,50020022004Ryan Cruthers
Huntsville Havoc Huntsville, Alabama Von Braun Center 6,0502004Stuart Stefan
Knoxville Ice Bears Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville Civic Coliseum 5,10920022004Andrew Harrison
Macon Mayhem Macon, Georgia Macon Coliseum 6,5502010 [lower-alpha 1] Nick Niedert
Pensacola Ice Flyers Pensacola, Florida Pensacola Bay Center 8,1502009Gary Graham
Peoria Rivermen Peoria, Illinois Carver Arena 9,8152013 Jean-Guy Trudel
Quad City Storm Moline, Illinois Vibrant Arena at The MARK 9,2002009 [lower-alpha 1] Dave Pszenyczny
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs Roanoke, Virginia Berglund Center 8,6722009 [lower-alpha 1] Dan Bremner

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Relocated franchise

Timeline

Vermilion County BobcatsBirmingham Bulls (SPHL)Evansville ThunderboltsPeoria Rivermen (SPHL)Bloomington Thunder (SPHL)Mississippi RiverKingsMacon MayhemAugusta RiverHawksPensacola Ice FlyersRoanoke Rail Yard DawgsMississippi SurgeQuad City StormLouisiana IceGators (SPHL)Richmond Renegades (SPHL)Twin City CyclonesPee Dee CyclonesFlorida SealsWinston-Salem Polar TwinsMacon TraxKnoxville Ice BearsJacksonville BarracudasHuntsville HavocFayetteville MarksmenFayetteville FireAntzColumbus CottonmouthsAsheville AcesSPHL

Defunct and relocated teams

Key rule differences

As per minor leagues, there are some rule differences between the SPHL and the NHL (and even the ECHL and the AHL, the two official developmental leagues regulated by the Professional Hockey Players' Association).

Champions

President's Cup

Awarded to the league playoff champion.

SeasonWinnerRunner-up
2005 Columbus Cottonmouths Macon Trax
2006 Knoxville Ice Bears Orlando Seals
2007 Fayetteville FireAntz Jacksonville Barracudas
2008 Knoxville Ice BearsJacksonville Barracudas
2009 Knoxville Ice BearsFayetteville FireAntz
2010 Huntsville Havoc Mississippi Surge
2011 Mississippi Surge Augusta Riverhawks
2012 Columbus Cottonmouths Pensacola Ice Flyers
2013 Pensacola Ice Flyers Huntsville Havoc
2014 Pensacola Ice FlyersColumbus Cottonmouths
2015 Knoxville Ice Bears Mississippi RiverKings
2016 Pensacola Ice Flyers Peoria Rivermen
2017 Macon Mayhem Peoria Rivermen
2018 Huntsville HavocPeoria Rivermen
2019 Huntsville Havoc Birmingham Bulls
2020 Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Pensacola Ice FlyersMacon Mayhem
2022 Peoria Rivermen Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
2023 Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs Birmingham Bulls
TeamTitles
Knoxville Ice Bears4
Pensacola Ice Flyers4
Huntsville Havoc3
Columbus Cottonmouths2
Fayetteville FireAntz1
Macon Mayhem1
Mississippi Surge1
Peoria Rivermen1
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs1

William B. Coffey Trophy

Originally known as the Commissioner's Cup, the regular season championship trophy was renamed in honor of league co-founder Bill Coffey during the 2007–08 season. [29]

SeasonWinnerTitle
2004–05 Knoxville Ice Bears 1
2005–06 Knoxville Ice Bears2
2006–07 Columbus Cottonmouths 1
2007–08 Knoxville Ice Bears3
2008–09 Knoxville Ice Bears4
2009–10 Mississippi Surge 1
2010–11 Mississippi Surge2
2011–12 Augusta RiverHawks 1
2012–13 Fayetteville FireAntz 1
2013–14 Pensacola Ice Flyers 1
2014–15 Peoria Rivermen 1
2015–16 Peoria Rivermen2
2016–17 Macon Mayhem 1
2017–18 Peoria Rivermen3
2018–19 Peoria Rivermen4
2019–20 Not awarded due to season cancellation
2020–21 Macon Mayhem [30] 2
2021–22 Knoxville Ice Bears5
2022–23 Peoria Rivermen5
2023-24Birmingham Bulls1
TeamTitles
Knoxville Ice Bears5
Peoria Rivermen5
Macon Mayhem2
Mississippi Surge2
Augusta Riverhawks1
Columbus Cottonmouths1
Fayetteville FireAntz1
Pensacola Ice Flyers1
Birmingham Bulls1

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Hockey League</span> North American mid-level minor professional ice hockey league

The Central Hockey League (CHL) was a North American mid-level minor professional ice hockey league which operated from 1992 until 2014. It was founded by Ray Miron and Bill Levins and later sold to Global Entertainment Corporation, which operated the league from 2000 to 2013, at which point it was purchased by the individual franchise owners. As of the end of its final season in 2014, three of the 30 National Hockey League teams had affiliations with the CHL: the Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, and Tampa Bay Lightning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbus Cottonmouths</span> Ice hockey team in Columbus, Georgia

The Columbus Cottonmouths were three separate professional ice hockey teams based in Columbus, Georgia. The team is nicknamed the Snakes and played their home games at the Columbus Civic Center. In 2017, the third franchise suspended operations after failing to find a new owner.

The Huntsville Havoc are a professional ice hockey team in the SPHL. They play their home games at the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macon Trax</span> Ice hockey team in Macon, Georgia

The Macon Trax were a minor-league professional ice hockey team based in Macon, Georgia. They played in the low minor league Atlantic Coast Hockey League (2002–03), World Hockey Association 2 (2003–04), and Southern Professional Hockey League (2004–05), playing their home games at the Macon Coliseum. They went to the championship finals in both the WHA2 and the SPHL, losing in each series to the league champion. This history prompted head coach Tommy Stewart to tell the Macon Telegraph that the team was "always a bridesmaid, never a bride."

The 2009–10 ECHL season was the 22nd season of the ECHL. It ran from October, 2009 until April, 2010, followed by the Kelly Cup playoffs which lasted until May 21, 2010 as the Cincinnati Cyclones won their second Kelly Cup championship in three years by defeating the Idaho Steelheads in five games. The league welcomed two franchises to the league for the 2009–10 season with the return of the Toledo Storm as the Toledo Walleye, who will play in the Lucas County Arena in Toledo, Ohio, after a two-year suspension of the franchise to allow for the construction of their new arena, and the admission of the Kalamazoo Wings as an expansion franchise who will play in Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The ECHL held its annual All-Star Game and Skills Challenge on January 19–20 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, home of the Ontario Reign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississippi Surge</span> Ice hockey team in Biloxi, Mississippi

The Mississippi Surge were a professional hockey team in the Southern Professional Hockey League that began play in the 2009–10 season and folded on May 2, 2014. Playing for five seasons, the Surge was based in Biloxi and home games were played at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, also known as "The Power Plant".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louisiana IceGators (SPHL)</span> Ice hockey team

The Louisiana IceGators were a professional ice hockey team in the Southern Professional Hockey League that began play in the 2009–10 season. Like the original IceGators, which played from 1995 until folding in 2005, they were based in Lafayette, Louisiana. The IceGators were brought back by local businessman Danny Smith. In August 2010, Smith sold the team to two local businessmen, E.C. "Chuck" Anselmo, Jr. and E.C. "Chuck" Anselmo, III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Augusta RiverHawks</span> Ice hockey team in Augusta, Georgia

The Augusta RiverHawks were a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Augusta, Georgia. They played in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) from 2010 to 2013. They played their home games at the James Brown Arena.

The 2009–10 Southern Professional Hockey League season was the sixth season of the Southern Professional Hockey League. The season began October 22, 2009, and ended April 17, 2010, after a 56-game regular season and a six-team playoff. The Huntsville Havoc captured their first SPHL championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peoria Rivermen (SPHL)</span> American ice hockey team

The Peoria Rivermen are a professional ice hockey team in the SPHL. They play in Peoria, Illinois, United States at the Carver Arena. The team replaced an American Hockey League franchise of the same name that was purchased by the Vancouver Canucks and moved out of Peoria to Utica, New York.

The 2013–14 Southern Professional Hockey League season is the 10th season of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The Pensacola Ice Flyers defeated the Columbus Cottonmouths in the President's Cup final 2 games to none to repeat as winners of the President's Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macon Mayhem</span> Ice hockey team in Macon, Georgia

The Macon Mayhem is an SPHL team based in Macon, Georgia that plays in the Macon Coliseum. The team was formerly the Augusta RiverHawks, which suspended operations for the 2013–14 season due to an ice-system failure at James Brown Arena.

The 2014–15 SPHL season was the 11th season of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The Knoxville Ice Bears defeated the Mississippi RiverKings in the President's Cup final 2 games to none to win their 4th SPHL title.

The 2015–16 SPHL season was the 12th season of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The Pensacola Ice Flyers defeated the Peoria Rivermen in the President's Cup final 3 games to none to win their 3rd SPHL title in 4 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs</span> Professional ice hockey team based in Virginia

The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs are a professional ice hockey team and a member of the SPHL. Based in Roanoke, Virginia, the Rail Yard Dawgs play their home games at Berglund Center.

The 2016–17 SPHL season was the 13th season of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL).

The 2018–19 SPHL season is the 15th season of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL).

The 2020–21 SPHL season is the 17th season of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). Due to the ongoing restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the season was delayed to December 26, 2020, and only half of the member teams participated in the shortened season.

The 2021–22 SPHL season was the 18th season of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The playoffs concluded on May 3, 2022 with the Peoria Rivermen defeating the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs in 4 games in the President's Cup Finals, claiming their first President's Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ice hockey in Georgia</span>

Georgia has a very mixed history with ice hockey. The state has seen many expansion teams at multiple levels but few have been able to establish a foothold in the public consciousness.

References

  1. ↑ "Doug Price Appointed Commissioner of the Southern Professional Hockey League". OurSportsCentral.com. January 17, 2019.
  2. ↑ Giardina, A.J. (April 9, 2009). "Local investors may bring another hockey team to the coast". WLOX-TV. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
  3. ↑ Press release (April 30, 2009). "Biloxi to join SPHL". SPHL.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Coast Hockey announces new team name". The Sun Herald . June 17, 2009. Retrieved June 17, 2009.[ dead link ]
  5. ↑ Foote, Kevin (May 15, 2009). "IceGators to skate again; join the discussion". Lafayette Daily Advertiser. Archived from the original on May 19, 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
  6. ↑ Blakeney, Jason (April 30, 2009). "Hockey's Back!". Pensacola News Journal. Archived from the original on May 3, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
  7. ↑ Blakeney, Jason (May 9, 2009). "Commentary: New team, new name, new opportunity". Pensacola News Journal. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved May 10, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Hockey Returning To Augusta, GA In 2010". TheSPHL.com. February 3, 2010. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Mississippi RiverKings Join SPHL For 2011–2012 Season". Press release. Southern Professional Hockey League. June 13, 2011. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  10. ↑ Van Tuyl, Chris (June 13, 2011). "Mississippi RiverKings announce change to Southern Professional Hockey League". Memphis Commercial Appeal. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  11. ↑ Pope, Thomas (May 16, 2013). "Two Illinois teams join SPHL; Augusta out next season". The Fayetteville Observer . Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  12. 1 2 "Shannon Szabados becomes first female goalie to win in Southern Professional Hockey League". NHL.com. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Mississippi Riverkings suspend operations for 2018-19 season, will seek new ownership". Commercial Appeal. May 24, 2018.
  14. ↑ "SPHL announces changes for 2020-2021 season". SPHL. October 6, 2020.
  15. ↑ "SPHL Expanding to Danville, IL for 2021-2022 Season". OurSports Central. March 10, 2021.
  16. 1 2 Vermilion County Bobcats [@VCBobcats] (February 9, 2023). "The Vermillion County Bobcats of the SPHL announced today that they have ceased operations, effective immediately" (Tweet). Retrieved February 9, 2023– via Twitter.
  17. ↑ "SPHL Announces Rebrand, 20th-Anniversary Logo". OurSports Central. August 1, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Pelham council approves ice arena lease for professional hockey team". WBRC . Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  19. ↑ Walsh, Lauren. "Former Birmingham Bulls owner sets sights on Pelham for professional hockey team". ABC 33/40 . Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  20. ↑ Lee, David (May 14, 2013). "Augusta RiverHawks won't play next season". The Augusta Chronicle . Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  21. ↑ "SPHL Approves RiverHawks' Move To Macon, GA For 2015–2016 Season". The SPHL. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Cottonmouths to suspend operations for next season". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. May 3, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Florida Seals cease operations". Press release. January 5, 2007. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  24. ↑ Gates, Nick (June 21, 2009). "Murray liking SPHL expansion". Knoxville News Sentinel . Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  25. ↑ "SPHL adding Quad City for 2018-2019 season". SPHL. May 23, 2018. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Surge Hockey Operations to Suspend Indefinitely". Press release. May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Renegades Officially Done". Press release. May 2, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  28. ↑ "Cyclones To Cease Operations". Press release. March 24, 2009. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  29. ↑ "History of the SPHL". SPHL.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  30. ↑ "MAYHEM SECURE REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP WITH WIN OVER FLYERS". Macon Mayhem. April 17, 2021.
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